A Letter to the Durham College Student Community from Durham College Students Inc.

Durham College Student Community,

As you may be aware, on June 28, the DCSI Board of Directors voted to terminate the employment contracts for three elected student officials. Over the last couple of days, there has been coverage in local news that has led to speculation online about the rationale for the Board’s decision. I would like to provide some clarity on the matter.

The details of the terminations are confidential human resources matters and we are unable to provide further information. However, we can confirm that the Ontario Court of Justice has dismissed a legal case challenging the Board’s decision.

I want to be clear about one thing – race was never a factor in the Board’s decision. As an organization that represents the interests of Durham College students, we know our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. We want to be explicitly clear that DCSI is committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive workplace for all employees. In fact, one of our core promises is helping to ensure the campus is a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for every student, regardless of race, citizenship, background, or any other factor, and we remain relentlessly committed to upholding this promise.

We know many of you voted for these individuals and are disappointed by the events that transpired. I can assure you that the termination decision was made in the best interest of the student body.

We are currently in the process of determining together with student membership how we will go about identifying executive replacements. In the meantime, we have DCSI student board members in place, including myself, who are working to ensure you all continue to receive the services we provide.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email us at dcsi@durhamcollege.ca.